Chickahominy Charlie

Can anyone tell me what "Frov.", possibly "Prov." refers to? It's probably "Provisional" meaning that it was a unit constructed contrary to standard TO&E (Table of Organization & Equipment). This happened a lot in WWI and WWII -- and even some after that. A good example (of after that) would be the 11th Helicopter Assault Company (Provisional). This was the beginning of the Air Cavalry. Trivia - He thought the French Chauchat(sp?) MG was a real piece of garbage. It was. According to what I learned in my studies, it stayed jammed longer than it fired. Biggest problem was the open magazine that allowed dirt and debris in among the rounds. Is it common for a Lt. to sign a leave form for a Sgt. from another battalion? The simple answer is that the LT was on duty -- Officer of the Day or something similar. Who would be in command of the M.G. Battalion? Battalions are commanded by LTCs (even that far back). They were still using the Regimental System in WWI, so there were not Brigades...at least like today's organization. Nine line companies (A thru I) and a HQ Company would make up the Regiment. Commanded by a COL. During WWI, they would often break up Regiments, however, and piecemeal several together, adding specialty units (like the MG Battalion or an Engineer Company) in order to meet specific needs. I'm not saying that there were no Brigades. I'm just saying that the organizational system, in its standard form of the day, did not have true Brigades. When I served (80's to 2000), there were 4 line companies + HQ Company to make up a Battalion. Three Battalions (usually a mix of Armor and Mech Infantry) made up the Brigade. There would also be a Support Battalion and other stuff in the Brigade. Three Brigades made up the Division. This was the TO&E they termed "Division 86". I'm a West Point grad, so I had a lot of military history as part of my undergraduate education.....and I'm a closet military historian, too. Hope that helps some....

Although I don't play much anymore, I began when I was 6. The normal comment I make after saying that is "you'd think I'd have figured out by now." That said, I've had lots and lots of different acoustic guitars (and a few electrics, too). I was a bluegrasser, so I mostly stuck to dreadnought body styles (or the Gibson slope-shouldered models), and as such, my advice may not be much help as far as models of brands. These are "loud and proud" types of acoustic guitars because you're mostly playing (and competing) against banjos, mandolins and fiddles. They are not necessarily the best finger picking models. However, after all the guitars I've had the privilege to own, I can say one thing....you have to play it to know whether it's "the one." I had a discussion with a luthier who once worked at Martin. He told me that Martin, when he worked there, would make 10 Martin D-28's in a group. They sat on a rolling rack that got moved from one assembly station to the other. Theoretically, all 10 were made "the same." However, in his opinion, out of those 10 identical D-28's, two would be real sound duds....2 would be stellar....and 6 would be middle of the road. The only way you know is to play it.

Although I have nothing relevant to add to the discussion, I won't let *that* stop me (as it usually doesn't stop anyone else ).... I sent the Polish dude an instant message on FB just yesterday. I told him, "The holidays are over....time to get back to work so I can order me one of your cappers!" He replied that they are in production.....which to me means that he probably subs out his machining work, etc. He would not give me a time (hard or soft) when they'd be ready.....which to me means that he's the cow's behind at the machining shop and they get to him when they get to him. However, I guess I've waited this long, I can wait some more. I'd buy yours Ole #4, but I got Colts too....